Nordmende -Sterling Tannhauser USA

6 speakers, 7 tone controls, 11 tubes

This is definitely a boatanchor even if it isn't made of heavy metal. The Nordmende -Sterling Tannhauser USA has 11 tubes plus solid state rectifier and 6 speakers (separate woofers and tweeters on each side and two midrange in front), is 27 inches wide (think one and a half rack widths!) and covers long wave, BC, short wave and FM. It is designed for stereo from a phono turntable or tape recorder but does not have an internal FM multiplex adapter. To my knowledge, FM stereo was still experimental when this model was designed.

I bought this radio at an antique radio swapmeet. The prior owner had not been able to find a schematic and had been unable to repair it. I find it difficult to resist a repair challenge, especially in a radio with great styling in very good cosmetic condition. How many table model radios sport 11 tubes plus rectifier, have 6 speakers, and are as wide as an old Zenith console radio?

The controls
To control tone, the Tannhauser has 2 knobs (Alto and Treble) and 5 switches (Bass, Speech, Presence, Orchestra, Brilliant). The center push-keys are labeled Off, Phono, Tape Recorder, LW, Direction Finding, BC, SW, and FM. The "Direction Finding" key works with either LW or BC and switches in a rotating loop-stick rod antenna whose position is turned by the right hand knob.

A front panel pointer gives the relative indication of the direction finder. Other knobs control volume, tuning, AFC/selectivity, and balance. A switch selects stereo or mono. The EM-84 tuning indicator tube is labeled "magic band" and is in the form of two sections of horizontal bar whose green glowing stripes approach each other as the signal strength increases. The radio includes rear-panel connections for external phono and tape recorder as well as external antennas. Voltage input may be varied to accommodate most international voltages. A label on the rear indicated that the radio had been preset to 110 volts input.

Of course, it was not completely identical since this version was designed for the American market with knob markings and shortwave stations listed in English.

The European version of the Nordmende "Tannhauser Stereo" can be found at this link. According to the site, the original price of the German version was 475 DM, serious money for a radio in 1960-61. I suspect this radio was intended for an upscale audience. Was there a European entertainment table radio with more tubes than this one?

Repairs
B+ was missing. I found an open "thing" in the power supply feed. I thought at first that it was a diode, but determined it to be resistor of probably about 50 ohms, replaced it and solved the missing B+ problem. What had me puzzled at first was the location of the rectifier. I could not find a separate rectifier. I believe it to be integral with the power transformer and could see why the former owner could not solve the problem of the missing B+. He likely couldn't find the rectifier.

The radio also needed a thorough application of deoxit on all the various controls and switches.

After repairing the radio, I learned that schematics are available. Gary S. sent info that the schematic for the Tannhauser USA is included in Sams Photofacts (638, folder 12.)

The name "Tannhauser"
I first thought this must have some German meaning such as "great tone in the house", especially with 6 speakers and 7 ways to control the tone. However, I learned that Wagner wrote an opera called "Tannhauser", and that this was the origin of the name. Tannhauser is the opera's chief character. It's interesting the things you learn as you investigate various radios. In any case, this radio does bring "great sound to the house" ;-)